Chapter 2 - The Hospital Alibi
I woke up to the steady, rhythmic beeping of a hospital heart monitor and the overwhelming smell of bleach.
Bright fluorescent lights stabbed at my eyes, forcing me to blink rapidly to clear the heavy fog in my brain.
My right hand shot straight to my stomach, panic seizing my chest until I felt a firm, answering kick from inside.
A massive wave of relief washed over me, accompanied by a flood of hot, stinging tears.
Then, the cold reality of my situation set in as I noticed the firm grip holding my left hand.
Julian was sitting in a plastic visitor's chair, performing the role of the devastated husband with sickening perfection.
"Oh, thank God you are awake, my love," he murmured, his voice thick with fake emotion.
A nurse was standing at the foot of my bed, looking at him with absolute adoration and sympathy.
"Your husband hasn't left your side for a single second since you fell down the stairs," the nurse said softly.
I stared at Julian, realizing he had already completely controlled the narrative of what happened.
He had painted my desperate escape attempt as a tragic, clumsy accident of a pregnant woman.
"I was so terrified I was going to lose you both," Julian added, gently brushing a strand of hair from my sweaty forehead.
His touch felt like venom burning my skin, but I forced myself to remain completely still.
I knew that if I screamed the truth right now, everyone would just think I was hysterical and delusional.
Julian was a billionaire philanthropist, and I was just his pregnant, highly emotional wife.
I swallowed the bitter bile rising in my throat and forced a weak, pathetic smile onto my face.
"Thank you for being here, Julian," I lied, the words tasting like ash in my dry mouth.
His eyes flashed with a dark, terrifying triumph because he truly believed he had broken my spirit.
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He had no idea that beneath my compliant exterior, a dangerous fire had just been ignited.
I was going to play his twisted game perfectly until I found the exact moment to destroy him.
